natural • Placer County, CA

Lake Tahoe Water Level Today

Station: Lake Tahoe at Tahoe City, CA (USGS 10337000) • Managing Agency: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation / USGS

Official Agency Page →
Dashboard Overview Water Detail & Climatology Wind & Weather Forecast
6,216.80 ft
lake surface elevation
NGVD29 datum • provisional
-12.30 ft
Full Conservation Pool Gap
Full Pool: 6,229.1 ft
1th
Historical Percentile
124 years of records
99.8%
Percent Full (Storage)
744,600 ac-ft capacity

Current Conditions Summary

The latest surface elevation recorded for Lake Tahoe in CA is 6,216.80 ft (NGVD29). This provisional reading is provided by official monitoring gauges operated by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation / USGS. This places today's water level at the 1th percentile for this time of year.

Water Level Observation Chart

Middle 50% seasonal band shown in aqua

Boating Conditions & Wind Safety Strip

Forecast point: Lat 39.167, Lon -120.143 • NWS Hourly Model

Detailed Hourly Checker →
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Kayak / Paddleboard
CAUTION
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Bass Boat / Runabout
GO
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Pontoon Boat
GO
âąī¸ Recommended Window: Best continuous window: 4 PM to 4 PM (48 consecutive hours of Go conditions)

Monitoring Station Location

Coordinates: 39.1670 N, -120.1430 W • Map © OpenStreetMap contributors

Verified Public Boat Ramps

Ramp Name Min Elevation Status Today
Tahoe City Boat Ramp 6,223.0 ft Low Water

Practical Tools for Lake Tahoe

Dock & Ramp Clearance

Calculate water depth over your slip floor or ramp toe today.

Lake Level Risk Report

Analyze multi-decade flood and drought frequencies for specific elevations.

Compare With Other Lakes

Compare Lake Tahoe against nearby lakes on level and wind.

About Lake Tahoe Hydrology

Lake Tahoe is a verified natural situated in Placer County, CA. Water resources and dam operations are managed by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation / USGS.

Official hydrological telemetry is captured at station Lake Tahoe at Tahoe City, CA (Station ID: 10337000) and is referenced to the NGVD29 vertical geodetic datum. The station features continuous daily observation records spanning back to 1900-01-01 (124 years of records).

Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Tahoe

What is the current water level of Lake Tahoe?

The latest verified reading for Lake Tahoe is 6,216.80 ft NGVD29, recorded at station 10337000.

Is Lake Tahoe currently considered normal, high, or low?

Lower than 99% of the 124 years on record for this calendar window (1th percentile).

What is the full conservation pool of Lake Tahoe?

Full pool elevation is authorized at 6,229.1 ft NGVD29. The lake is currently 12.30 ft below full pool.

What vertical datum is used for Lake Tahoe?

Elevations on Lake Tahoe reference the NGVD29 geodetic vertical datum. Always confirm this datum when comparing water readings to private dock surveys.

Who manages the dam and water releases on Lake Tahoe?

Water management and river operations are directed by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation / USGS.

Are public boat ramps on Lake Tahoe currently usable?

Launch usability depends on the specific ramp's toe elevation and your trailer draft. Check our verified ramp table above or calculate your exact hull clearance using the Clearance Calculator.

Other Verified Lakes in CA

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Lake Berryessa

Napa County • reservoir